For over 16 years, Sylvain Margaine has traveled the world photographing deserted buildings and desolate structures.

As a child, Margaine says his father would take him to explore old, abandoned factories. When Margaine grew older, the hobby turned into a photo project , which has resulted in two volumes of a published print book, Forbidden Places: Exploring our abandoned heritage.

“We think that abandoned and futureless places are part of our cultural heritage,” says the Belgium-based artist. The books include photos of factories, asylums, churches, military buildings and much more.

Pictured above, the Sammezzano castle was built in 1605 in the Tuscan town of Reggello, on the outskirts of Florence. Commissioned by Ximenes d’ Aragona (aka Jimenez of Aragon), an Italian nobleman, it was rebuilt in the 19th century by Ferdinando Panciatichi Ximenes d’Aragona and hosted the king of Italy in 1878. The castle was auctioned off in 1999 and was supposed to be converted into a luxury hotel, but has since been abandoned and looted.

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